Recently named England’s Small Visitor Attraction of the Year, the brewery is home to traditional Kentish ales such as Spitfire and Bishops Finger. Visitors will see the heart of the brewery and the whole brewing process from hop to hand pump. They can taste chalk-filtered mineral water straight from the artesian well, try malted barley, savour Kent hops and visit the brewhouse with its magnificent stained glass windows.

Visitors will also be taken to The Vaults, the recently converted wine and spirits store, which features a fascinating display of historic pub signs. Shepherd Neame’s vintage delivery vehicles are also on display, including a genuine Spitfire cockpit, Thornycroft, Morris and Austin from the 1920s, as well as a wealth of hop-picking memorabilia.

At the end of the tour, guests will be taken through a tutored tasting with a selection of Shepherd Neame’s Kentish ales and international lagers brewed under licence.

For a special end to the day, choose between a delicious three-course Sunday lunch, freshly prepared with locally sourced ingredients, or a brewers’ tea, including cheese scones, home-cooked ham, mature Cheddar, locally-produced chutney, ale cake and Victoria sponge.

Brewery tours followed by a three-course Sunday lunch are available at 10.45am, 11.15am and 11.45am and cost £29.75 per person.

Brewery tours followed by a brewers’ tea are available at 2.30pm and 2.50pm and cost £19.75 per person.

Advance booking is essential. For more details or to make a booking call 01795 542016 or click here.

A range of gifts are also available from the brewery’s shop in Court Street, Faversham, and from the website’s online shop.

Choose from a range of quality hampers such as theShepherd Neame Ale Lovers Hamperat £39.50, which features 500ml bottles of 1698 Bottle Conditioned Ale, Bishops Finger, Whitstable Bay and Early Bird plus two stubbies of Spitfire Ale. Also included are jars of Bishops Finger Marmalade, Spitfire Mustard, 1698 Brewer's Chutney, Peach Apple and Apricot Chutney made with Whitstable Bay and a Shepherd Neame bottle-top fridge-magnet and bottle opener.

For the true Spitfire Ale fan there’s the Spitfire Squadron Hamperat £47.50, which includes two 500ml bottles, two 250ml stubbies, a jar of Spitfire mustard, the Bottle of Britain advertising campaign book, Spitfire drip mats, pen, key ring, playing cards and bookmark, as well as a Spitfire bar runner, pint glass and Merlin engine sound-effect bottle opener.

For that extra special present, there areshort break gift certificates featuring a brewery tour plus an overnight stay at one of Shepherd Neame’s local inns, including the historic Sun Inn, situated in one of Faversham’s oldest streets.

The shop also offers a selection of pub games, such as dominoes, cards and cribbage, as well as tankards and plates, themed leisurewear, books, posters and a range of beers and lagers.